If you are interested in participating in the in-person program, check our Locations page to find a program provider near you!

If you prefer an online learning environment, the EmploymentWorks Self-Paced Program may be for you. Click here to find out more!

If you’re over the age of 15 and identify as autistic, neurodivergent, and/or a person with a disability, and you are looking for an opportunity to develop the skills you need to succeed in the workplace, this may be the program for you! Explore this website to learn more about what you can expect. The Program and For Participants pages are great places to start!

EmploymentWorks is designed for individuals who are seeking support to find and keep a job. It is currently offered in two formats: EmploymentWorks In-Person, and EmploymentWorks Online.

EmploymentWorks In-Person is a 12-week program, with two weekly in-person sessions – one that focuses on social, communication and job skills development, and a second that provides opportunities to practice these skills in a variety of workplace settings. Once this phase of the program is complete, the focus will be on the best next steps to help you participate in the labour market. This could include things like connecting you to employment agencies and assisting with interview preparation. Contact your local program provider to learn more about the program in your area!

EmploymentWorks Online is a Self-paced eLearning program for individuals who enjoy the flexibility and convenience of learning at their own pace and schedule. The program transforms the EmploymentWorks curriculum into a highly engaging eLearning experience, jam packed with interactive features, tools and resources, and offers new way for autistic youth, adults and persons with disabilities to develop and practice the essential skills needed to obtain and maintain employment. The online format supports safe, uninterrupted access to employment preparedness training and effectively eliminates barriers to participation related to location, transportation, or fixed program schedules. To participate, all that is required is access to a computer or tablet, and a reliable internet connection.

Each program location may vary slightly, but typically there are 8-10 participants in the 12 week In-Person program

There is no limit to how many people can participate in the EmploymentWorks Self-Paced online program.

EmploymentWorks In-Person is 12 weeks long and is comprised of two 2.5 hour sessions a week – 1 classroom based and 1 at a job site. Once you have completed the manualized 12 week program, the goal will be to support you to improve your participation in the labour market – in other words, to support you on your path to employment. Approaches will vary in intensity and duration based on your individual needs and the program location.

EmploymentWorks Self-Paced online program is designed for individuals to complete modules on their own time and at a pace that best supports their learning, skill development, practice and retention. If needed, program staff are available to provide guidance and live support, and if interested, learners can join group-based online sessions to connect with other learners, enhance learning, and ask questions.

No experience is required, just a desire to find a job and a willingness to actively participate!

Some programs may charge a fee for program participation. Contact your local program provider to find out more.

Check our Locations page to find a program provider near you!

If you are over the age of 18 and are willing to share your experiences related to employment, this may be a great volunteer opportunity for you. Check out For Mentors to learn more.

Mentors provide support, reinforcement, and positive role modeling to program participants as they focus on developing their employment skills and in turn, develop social, communication, time management, leadership, and people skills.

Mentors attend the Structured Learning sessions which are held weekly for 12 weeks and run for 2.5 hours. Contact your local program provider to learn more.

Mentors who have prior work and volunteer experience would likely have relevant insights to share with program participants. Otherwise there are no other strict experience requirements!

Check our Locations page to find a program provider near you!

As an employer with EmploymentWorks, your organization will provide opportunities for autistic adults and persons with disabilities to work shoulder-to-shoulder with your employees to gain valuable, hands-on experience. Check out For Employers to learn more.

Contact your local program provider to find out more about becoming an employer. No EmploymentWorks program in your area? Contact us to find out other ways you can support successful and sustainable employment outcomes for diverse individuals.

Employers are typically asked to commit to a minimum of two 5 hour time-slots over the course of a 12 week period. Programs are typically offered anywhere from 1-3 times a year based on program location.

While you are not expected to hire program participants, becoming an employer in this program provides a unique opportunity to get to know potential employees and see them in action. Many of our employers find employees through the program! Check out this video from an employer in Calgary.

No – the job-sampling model that is used within EmploymentWorks is intended to provide participants with a variety of workplace experiences. Participants are only on the work site for 2.5 hours at a time to sample job tasks and, where appropriate, may be coached by not only program staff, but employees!

Check out the Locations page to see if there is an existing program provider near you, or if your organization could be the first to offer EmploymentWorks to your community!

If you have an interest and capacity to support autistic adults and/or persons with disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep a job, this might be the perfect program for your organization. Click here to find out more about the program.

Check out The Program page to get a quick overview of the format, and don’t hesitate to contact us for more information!

Typically, during the 12 week Manualized Program, EmploymentWorks is delivered by a Program Coordinator whose main role is to oversee the program in its’ entirety, and 2 Program Facilitators who attend and support the sessions that run twice a week. Structured Learning sessions are most often supported by 2 program staff whereas the Job Sampling sessions maintain a ratio of 1 staff member to 3 participants. The staffing model to support participants with the Labour Market Participation phase will vary by program location.

A free license is required to access the EmploymentWorks program materials and resources. Costs to run the program consist primarily of staff wages and local transportation. Human resource costs vary by organization and location, but a good starting place is to allocate 2 days per week for each of the staff members (1 x Program Coordinator and 2 x Program Facilitators) and approximately $400 for local transportation (mileage and parking).

Contact us to learn more about the free license!

Check out the For Agencies page for more information and contact us so we can discuss your goals!

IT’S FREE. Contact us to learn more about the free license to run the program.

Some service providers may charge a fee for program participation.